Sensor receiver having a Rydberg cell with a plurality of excitation sources and associated methods
A sensor receiver may include a Rydberg cell configured to be exposed to a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a probe source configured to generate a plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell. The pulsed probe beams may be offset in time from one another. A plurality of excitation sources may be coupled to the Rydberg cell. A detector may be positioned downstream from the Rydberg cell.
1. A sensor receiver comprising:
a Rydberg cell configured to be exposed to a radio frequency (RF) signal;
a probe source configured to generate a plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell, with the pulsed probe beams being offset in time from one another;
a plurality of excitation sources coupled to the Rydberg cell; and
a detector downstream from the Rydberg cell.
2. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of excitation sources comprise a plurality of excitation lasers.
3. The sensor receiver of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of excitation lasers have different frequencies.
4. The sensor receiver of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of excitation lasers comprises a continuous laser.
5. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , wherein the probe source is configured to generate the plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams without scanning.
6. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , wherein the probe source comprises an optical source, and a pulse shaper downstream from the optical source.
7. The sensor receiver of claim 6 , wherein the probe source comprises a beam splitter downstream from the pulse shaper, and a respective optical delay element in a path of each beam downstream from the beam splitter.
8. The sensor receiver of claim 7 , wherein each optical delay element comprises a respective different length of optical fiber.
9. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , comprising a first microlens adjacent a first side of the Rydberg cell, and a second microlens adjacent a second side of the Rydberg cell.
10. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , comprising a controller coupled to the Rydberg cell, probe source, plurality of excitation sources, and detector.
11. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of excitation sources are coupled to the Rydberg cell in at least one of a counter-propagating direction and co-propagating direction from the probe source.
12. A sensor receiver comprising:
a Rydberg cell configured to be exposed to a radio frequency (RF) signal;
a probe source comprising an optical source, and a pulse shaper downstream therefrom and configured to generate a plurality of non-scanned, spaced apart, pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell, with the non-scanned, spaced apart, pulsed probe beams being offset in time from one another;
a plurality of excitation lasers coupled to the Rydberg cell; and
a detector downstream from the Rydberg cell.
13. The sensor receiver of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of excitation lasers have different frequencies.
14. The sensor receiver of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of excitation lasers comprises a continuous laser.
15. The sensor receiver of claim 12 , wherein the probe source comprises a beam splitter downstream from the pulse shaper, and a respective optical delay element in a path of each beam downstream from the beam splitter.
16. The sensor receiver of claim 15 , wherein each optical delay element comprises a respective different length of optical fiber.
17. The sensor receiver of claim 12 , comprising a first microlens adjacent a first side of the Rydberg cell, and a second microlens adjacent a second side of the Rydberg cell.
18. The sensor receiver of claim 12 , comprising a controller coupled to the Rydberg cell, probe source, plurality of excitation lasers, and detector.
19. The sensor receiver of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of excitation sources are coupled to the Rydberg cell in at least one of a counter-propagating direction and co-propagating direction from the probe source.
20. A method for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal comprising:
exposing a Rydberg cell to the RF signal;
operating a probe source to generate a plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell, with the pulsed probe beams being offset in time from one another;
operating a plurality of excitation sources coupled to the Rydberg cell; and
operating a detector downstream from the Rydberg cell.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of excitation sources comprise a plurality of excitation lasers.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of excitation lasers have different frequencies.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of excitation lasers comprises a continuous laser.
24. The method of claim 20 , comprising generating the plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams without scanning.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the probe source comprises an optical source, a pulse shaper downstream from the optical source, a beam splitter downstream from the pulse shaper, and a respective optical delay element in a path of each beam downstream from the beam splitter.
26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of excitation sources are coupled to the Rydberg cell in at least one of a counter-propagating direction and co-propagating direction from the probe source.